A Review of Redesign Of 1800postcards.com by Matt Sahr

I like the 2nd version the best. The navigation buttons on version 1 and 2 are great.

And I like two things about version 3. The narrowness -- with so much information/details on the page, I like the feeling that it's NOT creeping into my peripheral vision. I feel I can more easily comprehend the narrower page. Also, I like the 3 boxy images below the green image band. I like their clean boxed-in regularity.

One think I do not like about version 3. The inclusion of options and text on the right side of the green-across-the-page bar, I don't like. In my scan of the page, I tend to skip the big green bar initially, and read above (menu bar) and below (individual offers). If the green bar is primarily a visual splash of color, nice design, nice image, then I don't want crucial information in there. But this is where I clearly feel that I'm just not a usability expert. Do most people go straight to the big green image bar, and read the details there? I sure don't. I use it more for proof that yes, your site is capable of making things look pretty. And that's important by itself, for a postcard and image printing site.

On version 2, near the bottom, I like the dark boxes making an obvious new section on the page.

At the top of the page, the Shopping Cart icon does nothing for me. And with the icon on the left, and the search box on the right, the words "Shopping Cart: 0 items" don't read easily as a coherent unit. Maybe more white space on the sides of the "Shopping cart" link?

On version 2, my least favorite thing is the big "Get 4x6 Postcards" text in the blocks below the green bar. It makes me think you're pushing some weird scheme where I get like 20 free postcards, but I have to put a cheesy toolbar in my browser. I dunno. "Get" seems pushy. I mean, people have already ARRIVED on your website. They're looking for postcards (or business cards). The big text and the "GET!" language makes it seem less than legitimate.

I found myself looking for some kind of link, near the top left logo, for "green initiatives" or "conservation" or whatever backs up your claim of being a green company. Of course, I found the "GREEN" link eventually, but it didn't feel quick or obvious enough. I dunno if I'm representative of regular visitors, but when I see "Green," I think "Oh really?? Got proof?" And I want backup for that claim immediately (even if I don't click on the link, I want to SEE it, quickly).

Tabs at the bottom? The bottom bar that has headings of "SERVICES/ PRODUCTS/ WHY US" I think that I should be able to scroll over or click the 2nd and 3rd category, and get some options to pop up underneath. In other words, regular javascript tabs. However, this was not IMMEDIATELY clear to me. None of the versions integrate the 3 tab choices solidly enough with the boxes below, to make it obvious that they're tabs.

Yup. Those are my opinions. Great work on these layouts.